Posted on 01/16/2006 4:38:45 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
President Bush's advisers are resigned to the Democratic capture of the White House in 2008, according to senior Republican sources close to the White House.
GOP sources said White House strategists have attempted to persuade Mr. Bush that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York Democrat and her party’s current front-runner to be the next presidential nominee, cannot be defeated in 2008. Bush strategists said the president should instead focus on seeking to retain the Republican majority in both houses of Congress in 2006 and 2008.
"There is nobody in the White House that will openly say we lost the presidency in 2008," a senior GOP source said. "But while the Democrats are completely focused on 2008, the White House has been completely aloof."
The strategists have argued that given the forecasts of a downturn in the economy, crises with China and Iran, Mrs. Clinton would be besieged with major problems that would ensure a one-term presidency, the sources said.
The strategists have pointed out that Mr. Bush, given the failing health of Vice President Dick Cheney, does not have a natural successor. Recently, Mr. Cheney, who suffers from heart problems, was rushed to the hospital because he had difficulties in breathing.
The sources said the strategists have assessed that Mrs. Clinton would easily win the Democratic leadership and the subsequent race for president. They said Mr. Bush has pledged to campaign vigorously for any GOP presidential nominee.
Administration sources said Mr. Bush has discussed the prospect of a Clinton presidency. But they asserted that the president has focused on the 2006 elections for Congress and the need to maintain the GOP majority.
"If we lost our majority in Congress, then the president immediately becomes a lame duck," an administration source said. "So, the talk of 2008 is not only premature, it's harmful."
I hope you're right, but I don't even think she'll get that far. I really do think there are enough Democrats with balls--at least in the secrecy of the voting booth--that the witch will not get the nomination.
What a joke. Hillary can't win.
None of this concern would have been needed if the Senate/House had stuck to their guns and impeached Clinton and her husband years ago, smearing any future political career (other than Mayor of Washington D.C.).
Hasn't helped for Bush to keep kissing Clinton butt.
Considering how the Democrats commit hate crime thoughts regularly towards Bush the Moderate, imagine if Bush was an actual Conservative?!
I doubt seriously that she can even win the Democratic nomination. I'd say the nomination is Mark Warner's to lose.
They have printed anti-Bush articles before. Going from memory they were just as lacking in actual facts.
Maybe they are trying to get Cheney to resign so that someone else can be VP.
"...No one's running, except Hillary and she's not really campaigning.She opens her mouth and the votes fly away from her...LOL! And how many times have we been told that the President is a lame duck and we have yet to see it? Think about 2003 and the "Mission Accomplished" moment. Sure the Dems were soiling themselves, but it was a hard road after that. 2.8 years is ages in politics. Lots can and does happen. At this point her party is the party of Dr. No. And the West Coast Dems absolutely hate her and don't think that she can win. Sure they will vote for her, but what will the turnout be like?"
Well said BUMP!
This will be only the second time in my life that a truly "open" situation exists for the presidency, the first being in 1952 when neither the incumbent president or his vice president was seeking the office.
Those who fear Hillary are being a bit prematurely paranoid.
:-) Thank you!
Republican sources close to the White House? Give us a break, will ya?
Gergen
dying alley cats are fine ...Hillary is not
She is mean and we can only hope that murder will out. Does anybody think that the White House will answer this drivel? I agree that I would vote for McVain before her (but I'd have to wear a gas mask).
Hey, I didn't write the bloody thing...
Very funny.
Sources? VP dying, 2006 a complete disaster, no author for the story!
Photos by AFP makes me laugh
Very funny...........
I agree it's got to be Rudi G. True, he's not a social conservative BUT he is an economic conservative, he's pro-free enterprise and he did a heck of a job as Mayor of NYC. I think he's the only one who can beat the wicked witch.
I look for him to run in the primaries and to modify his views on affirmative action and abortion, taking these views slightly to the right. I think he knows he has to do this to get the nomination.
Give me a break. They have no idea, given the vagaries of politics, what will happen by 2012. Nothing is forever in politics.
She does have a particularly irritating voice, doesn't she?
And when she tries to sound passionate, it just gets screechier.
She can modulate it when she really tries, but even then it's not an attractive voice.
But, of course, she makes up for it by her looks.
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